Ed Mann, a musician who has been a drummer and piano dabbler since childhood has passed away. He was announced dead today, Saturday, the 1st of June 2024. Ed Mann died unexpectedly, according to reports. His death was claimed to be unexpected, however, the circumstances of his death are unknown. There have been comments on social media, but no one knows what caused his death.
“Ed Mann… This one hits hard. Ed was a big reason why I initially was interested in CalArts. Studying with him turned into a friendship of almost 40 years. As more of my teachers pass it is important to keep their memories and legacies alive. Peace be with you.” Thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.
Who was Ed Mann?
Ed Mann, a lifelong drummer and piano dabbler, was renowned for his mallet percussion performances with Frank Zappa’s ensemble from 1977 to 1988, appearing on over 30 of Zappa’s albums. Mann has also released several CDs as a bandleader and composer. In 1973, Mann formed a band with Tommy Mars and studied with John Bergamo at CalArts.
In 1977, Bergamo recommended Mann to Zappa, leading to Mann joining Zappa’s band after a jam session at Zappa’s house. Mann played gongs on J21’s “Yellow Mind: Blue Mind” album and was a member of The Band From Utopia until 2014. He toured with Project Object in 2008, performed with The Z3 in 2013, and contributed to David Arvedon’s albums. Mann has also performed with Desert Rain and joined Mike Dillon’s northeast US tour in 2016.
